Memphis groups donate therapy bikes to veterans
Keith Pate, a veteran who twice served in Iraq, recently got a bike.
But this bike is unlike any that you would find in a store.
His therapeutic tricycle gives Pate, who suffered a stroke after returning from his last tour of duty, more independence and mobility.
The bike was a gift from a group of about 50 individuals from four local organizations who met recently at Coletta’s Italian Restaurant in Bartlett to present it.
Pate has been working with his recreational therapist, Christy White, at the Memphis VA Medical Center to recover. White has been working with her peers at the VA to partner with Memphis for America and the national AMBUCS (American Business Clubs) to provide custombuilt bicycles for disabled veterans.
They have donated over 30 bikes in the two years that this effort has been under way in Memphis.
“It means so much to our vets to be able to get out on these bikes. We’re so thankful for the work that AMBUCS and Memphis for America are doing,” said White.
Memphis for America and AMBUCS, have long histories in Memphis, but the Bikes for Vets initiative is relatively new. AMBUCS is a nearly 100-year-old organization which focuses on helping disabled kids achieve increased mobility by build- ing bicycles and tricycles for them.
Danny Cline is a resident of Memphis who received a hand-operated tricycle, one of the first bikes in AMBUCS’ Bikes for Vets program in 2011. He stressed the debt he feels to those kids.
“If AMBUCS hadn’t been working with the kids, I would’ve never got my bike. I don’t want people to forget about the kids.”
The VA works with AMBUCS through recreational therapy programs to select candidates, and then AMBUCS builds a bike to fit that individual. Both groups work with Memphis for America.
For more information, contact Gordon Brigman with AMBUCS at GBrig57080@aol.com.